INTERNATIONAL CLIMBING COMPETITION ARCO GARDA TRENTINO

Transcript

1 XXI Rock Master - the competition for the world's climbing champions Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September 2007 at Arco (Garda Trentino - Italy) Sports climbing is about to enter its most important time of the year, and all thoughts immediately go to the Rock Master. The competition of which legends are made of, the one which every first September weekend for the last 21 years draws thousands of climbers to Arco. It's an unmissable event for both climbers and the small town on the shores of Lake Garda. A meeting with the history of modern sports climbing and its competitions which were first held here in Arco over two decades ago. Rock Master is not only a competition which takes place year after year, but also a ritual in its own right, a true climbing festival which culminates in the challenges between the strongest climbers in the world. For Rock Master is reserved for the best only, the highest placed in the permanent world ranking. And only the best of the best have added their names to the victory list. The climbing champions spend two entire days fighting against gravity on the incredible artificial walls of the Climbing Stadium, at 21m the largest outdoor wall in Europe. Only the athlete who climbs highest has the right to the legendary Trophy. Only those who find the road to the sky's limit wins. For the athletes this is a fantastically demanding and difficult competition which requires maximum mental concentration and physical form, all of which must be carefully dosed during the two competition days. Competition strategy and a bit of luck pave the way to the top and victory. Strength and class are needed to overcome the Rock Master overhangs, to not fall off prematurely. The champions must give it their all because, like in all epic competitions, winning is what counts. It's because of this that the competition is an unforgettable spectacle for the Arco crowds. Rock Master is also an authentic climbing marathon. Other than the classic Rock Master Trophy there is also the Speed competition for the vertical sprinters. While the Sint Roc Boulder Contest hosts the intense bouldering competition on the 5m high walls with problems "impossible" for all but the best. And on Friday 7 September the second edition of the Arco Rock Legends will take place to assign the "Salewa Rock Award" and "La Sportiva Competition Award". Chosen by the most important international magazines, these awards recognise the achievements of the climber who distinguished him or herself most on rock and during the 2005/06 competition season. Once again the special climbing Oscar evening will be hosted by Kay Rush, the journalist, TV presenter and above all passionate rock and mountain climber.

2 ARCO ROCK LEGENDS 2007 The nominations for the second ARCO ROCK LEGENDS will take place on 07/09/2007 at Arco (Garda Trentino, Italy)to assign the climbing Oscars: the Salewa Rock Award and the La Sportiva Competition Award. The second edition of the Arco Rock Legends - scheduled for Friday 7 September 2007 at Arco (Garda Trentino, Italy) - proposes once again a list of star climbers for the "Salewa Rock Award" and the "La Sportiva Competition Award". Taking place on the eve of the XXI Rock Master, the champions competition, this special climbing oscar celebration will be presented for the second year running by Kay Rush and the evening will be a unique occasion to see all of the most important climbers in the world together on the Arco Casinò stage. The president of the Arco Rock Legends Association Giuseppe Filippi and the president of the Rock Master Association Albino Marchi announced this year s candidates. Both underlined the list of super champions selected by the international jury, comprised of 15 of the most important specialised magazines and presided by Fabrizio Miori, councilor for sport and the environment at Arco, which selected the nominations, choosing 5 top climbers for climbing outdoors and 3 competition athletes who distinguished themselves most last season. This is a selection of star climbers of which all climber's dreams are made of. Five candidates, some rising stars and others consolidated climbers, have been chosen for the "Salewa Rock Award 2007". The most prestigious names in sports climbing and bouldering (new this year to the awards) are in the running for the prizes: from the American Dave Graham, 26 year old from Maine and long-term reference point for climbing on the road on the hardest routes in the world, to his countryman Daniel Woods, the 17 year old unstoppable boulderer and more. From the Spaniard Patxi Usobiaga, extremely strong both on rock and in competitions, to the German Andreas Bindhammer, author of some of the most important ascents of the year, to the young talent (just 14 years old) Adam Ondra from the Czech Republic. The nominations for the 2007 "La Sportiva Competition Award" include once again Angela Eiter from Austria, winner of the first edition and undisputed queen of competitions, in the running against her 17 year old teammate and climbing phenomena David Lama, and the Spaniard Patxi Usobiaga, winner of the World Cup 2006 and the only climber to be nominated for both awards. We'll have to wait until the evening of Friday 7 September to find out who will succeed Josune Bereziartu and Angela Eiter, last year's winners of the "Salewa Rock Award 2006" and the "La

3 Sportiva Competition Award 2006". But one thing is certain already: those who will be there at Arco are all top class climbers who will write another page in the history books for Arco and the Rock Legends Awards, the event which has quickly become the synthesis and worldwide reference point for sports climbing and its legends. INTERNATIONAL JURY President: Fabrizio Miori (Arco Town Councilor for Tourism and Sport) Vicepresident: Giorgio Balducci (RAI film director) The magazines: Alp magazine (ITA), Climber (KO), Desnivel (ESP), 8a.nu (INT), Gory (POL), Grimpeur (FRA), Klettern (GER), Limits (NDL), Montana (CZE), Pareti (ITA), Rivista del CAI (ITA), Rock & Ice (USA), Summit (GBR), UP (ITA).

4 ALL THE ATHLETES OF THE XXI EDITION ROCK MASTER 2007, MEN S COMPETITION. There are many pretenders to the 2007 champion s throne, and naturally Italian Flavio Crespi is one of these: the winner of the World Cup 2005 and recent winner in Chamonix and second placer in China in the World Cup 2007 is currently on a roll. Crespi will obviously aim for that historic first ever Italian Rock Master victory, but he will have to battle hard against the world's strongest. In particular Patxi Usobiaga and Ramon Julian Puigblanque, the winner of the World Cup Lead 2006 and the dominator of the last two Rock Master comps, will be two to look out for. As will reigning world champion Tomas Mrazek, the athlete who has just won in China and who has never missed the podium in 6 Rock Master appearances. 17 year old austro-nepalese child protégé David Lama is surely in with a podium chance at his second ever Rock Master, as is the current leader of the Lead World Cup, Jorg Verhoeven from Holland. But the other high calibre athletes will certainly not just stand and stare, like the Frenchmen François Millet and Fabien Dugit and the veterans Christian Bindhammer (winner in Arco in 2000) and the Italian Luca Zardini: these two have competed here 9 and 12 times respectively. And once again, true to tradtion, the Rock Master will host a new young hopeful; 18 year old Felix Neumärker from Germany who placed second at the recent youth World Championship will experience the Rock Master fascination. Talking about this Wimbledon-like attraction: after a splendid performance in 2006 Luca "Canon" Zardini had announced his retirement from the Rock Master... but at 35 years of age he simply couldn't say no to the organisers, also because he's still a player in the current world cup ranking. His is a true love for sports climbing and a also a massive gift to all the fans. ROCK MASTER 2007, WOMEN S COMPETITION. The women's competition will definitely be a battle to be remembered. Angela Eiter from Austria and Maja Vidmar from Slovenia, or rather the queen of competitions and her closest rival, will be at the forefront of all action. Eiter is the absolute dominator of the competition scene (reigning world champion, winner of 3 Rock Masters and current leader of the World Cup 2007) and she will no doubt search for that historic poker which will enable her to join François Legrand in the Hall of Fame and be just one victory away from the nigh unreachable Lynn Hill. Vidmar on the other hand is performing strongly in this splendid 2007 season and has already won two stages of the World Cup. She is definitely capable and has the desire to overtake Eiter which, last year here at Arco, she so almost managed to do. The two will have to watch out though for Sandrine Levet from France: in 2006 the bouldering champion won her second Rock Master and reconfirmed her undisputed class and extraordinary versatility. But the challenge will be rendered even greater with the likes of Nataljia Gros and Mina Markovic from Slovenia, 17 year old Charlotte Durif from France, the Austrians Katharina Saurwein and Barbara Bacher, the American Emily Harrington, Swiss Alexandra Eyer and Irati Anda Villanueva from Spain. The Italian champion Jenny Lavarda is up there amongst the best obviously and, despite her mere 23 years of age, she is already an Arco veteran with 9 competitions under her belt.

5 PROGRAM ROCK MASTER 2007 FRIDAY 7 September International Jury meet Arco Rock Legends Casinò Municipale di Arco - Award's ceremony, introduction of finalists and announcement of the two winners Arco Rock Legends. A short video clip presented by the finalists will give an insight into sports climbing worldwide. The evening will be hosted by none other than Kay Rush, the exceptional radio and TV journalist, climber and sports woman. SATURDAY 8 September Waiting for the Rock Master with the Arco Rock Legends and Kay Rush Rock Master On sight round Parallel of Speed MaxiTV Italy-France qualification football match for Euro Parallel of Speed Finals Sint Roc Boulder Contest - men SUNDAY 9 September Athletes presentation Rock Master - after work round Sint Roc Boulder Contest women Duel Ennio Lattisi Trophy Award s Ceremony Caffè Conti d Arco da Pio Rock Master Party ROCK MASTER TEAM Institutions: Comune di Arco, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Regione Trentino Alto Adige Sud Tirol, Ingarda Spa, Azienda Municipale Sviluppo Arco, Cassa Rurale Alto Garda Sponsor: Cassin, La Sportiva, Salewa, Seat, Sint Roc & Ecogrips, Vertical World Sport With the irreplaceable contribution of: Soccorso Alpino Guardia Finanza, Ass. Sportiva ArcoClimbing, Guide Alpine Friends of Arco. Media Partner: Pareti, PlanetMountain, Radio Cortina

6 ROCK MASTER 2007 THE COMPETITIONS Rock Master Trophy XXI Edition The classic and historical Trophy dedicated to those "Difficulty" athletes who make stamina, power and technique an art. when: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September 2007 where: Climbing Stadium Arco, 18m high, 15m overhanging who: 10 climbers in the men's category and 10 in the men's category, based on the continuously updated Worldranking, or, put in other words, the strongest climbers in the world in this discipline. formula: this classic difficulty competition takes place over a two-day period: Saturday's on-sight and Sunday's after work redpoint. The points (ie height) are added together to create the final results. winners Rock Master 2006: Ramòn Julien Puigblanque (ESP) Sandrine Levet (FRA) route setters: Leonardo Di Marino and Donato Lella Ennio Lattisi Trophy "The Duel" The emotional head-to-head challenge against the best 4 of the Rock Master Trophy when: Sunday 09/09/2007 where: Climbing Stadium who: the top 4 of the final results (men and women) of the Rock Master. formula: the top 4 of the final results Rock Master compete in a head-to-head duel on two identical parallel routes. The highest wins, if both reach the same point then the fastest wins. The winners of the first round (1st vs 3rd, 2nd vs 4th) compete in the final for the Trophy. winners Lattisi Trophy 2006: Tomás Mrazek (CZE) - Sandrine Levet (FRA) route setters: Leonardo Di Marino and Donato Lella Sint Roc Bouldering Contest VIII edition The spectacle of the short and intense vertical enigma: unheard of climbing difficulties. when: Saturday 8 September (22.45) men's competition - Sunday 9 September (14.00) women's competition. where: Climbing Stadium Arco, on a series of specially created boulders formula: 4 boulder problems can be worked prior to the competition. Each problem eliminates the worst competitor, resulting in 2 athletes competing on the final fourth boulder problem. athletes: 8-10 boulderers for both the male and female categories, by invitation only, the best bouldereers in the world. winners Sint Roc Bouldering Contest 2006: Nalle Hukkataival (FIN) - Anna Stöhr (AUT) route setters: Jacky Godoffe, Alberto Gnerro

7 Speed competition - VIII edition The competition for supersonic climbers: the fastest sprinters in the world showdown at the Climbing Stadium to break the vertical soundbarrier. when: Saturday 8 September (start 20.15) where: Climbing Stadium Arco, central wall formula: Men s head to head, sudden death competition on two identical, parallel routes. The athletes are allowed to try the route for 30 minutes beforehand. athletes: the best 10 sprinters in the world. route setter: Jacky Godoffe winner 2006: Sergey Sinitsyn (RUS) competition record: Tomasz Oleksy 10:52 (2006)

8 ROCK MASTER 2007 AND ENNIO LATTISI TROPHY ( Duel ) ATHLETES In CUWR - continuously updated WORLDRANKING order Men s competition Patxi Usobiaga (Esp) n Jorg Verhoeven (Ned) n Tomas Mrazek (Cze) n David Lama (Aut) n Flavio Crespi (Itav n Ramon Julian Puigblanque (Esp) n Francois Millet (Fra) n Luca Zardini (Ita) n Fabien Dugit (Fra) n Bindhammer Christian (Ger) n Felix Neumärker (Ger) n Women s competition Angela Eiter (Aut) n Maja Vidmar (Slo) n Sandrine Levet (Fra) n Nataljia Gros (Slo) n Mina Markovic (Slo) n Charlotte Durif (Fra) n Katharina Saurwein (Aut) n Barbara Bacher (Aut) n Jenny Lavarda (Ita) n Alexandra Eyer (Sui) n Emily Harrington (Usa) n Irati Anda Villanueva (Esp) n The Rock Master and Ennio Lattisi Trophy route setters are Leonardo Di Marino and Donato Lella.

9 SINT ROC BOULDERING CONTEST 2007 In CUWR - continuously updated WORLDRANKING order Men s competition Mykhaylo Shalagin (Ukr) n Gabriele Moroni (Ita) n Nalle Hukkataival (Fin) n Gareth Parry (Gbr) n Lucas Preti (Ita) n Ludovic Laurance (Fra) n Daniel Woods (Usa) n Women s competition Olga Shalagina (Ukr) n Julia Abramtchouk (Rus) n Silvie Raifova (Cze) n Samantha Berry (Aus) n Roberta Longo (Ita) n Anna Stohr (Aut) n The Sint Roc Bouldering Contest is set by Jacky Godoffe and Alberto Gnerro.

10 SPEED 2007 In CUWR - continuously updated WORLDRANKING order Sergey Synitsyn (Rus) Eugeny Vaitsekovsky (Rus) Manuel Escobar (Ven) Anatoly Skripov (Rus) Alexander Pechekhonv (Rus) Csaba Komondi (Hun) Nestor Carvajal (Ven) Leonel De La Salas (Ven) Libor Hroza (Cze) Tomasz Oleksy (Pol) Lukasz Swirk (Pol) Matthias Schmidl (Ita) The Speed route setters are Leonardo Di Marino and Donato Lella.

11 ROCK MASTER HALL OF FAME 1987 Lynn Hill (USA) - Stefan Glowacz (GER) 1988 Lynn Hill (USA) - Stefan Glowacz (GER) 1989 Lynn Hill (USA) - Didier Raboutou (FRA) 1990 Lynn Hill (USA) - François Legrand (FRA) 1991 Isabelle Patissier (FRA) - Yuji Hirayama (JPN) 1992 Lynn Hill (USA) - Stefan Glowacz (GER) 1993 Susi Good (SUI) - Elie Chevieux (SUI) 1994 Robyn Erbesfield (USA) - François Legrand (FRA) 1995 Laurence Guyon (USA) - François Lombard (FRA) 1996 Katie Brown (USA) - François Lombard (FRA) 1997 Katie Brown (USA) - François Legrand (FRA) 1998 Liv Sansoz (FRA) - François Legrand (FRA) 1999 Muriel Sarkany (BEL) - Eugeny Ovtchinnikov (RUS) 2000 Muriel Sarkany (BEL) - Eugeny Ovtchinnikov (RUS) 2001 Muriel Sarkany (BEL), Martina Cufar (SLO) - Christian Bindhammer (GER), Tomas Mrazek (CZ), Yuji Hirayama (JPN) 2002 Sandrine Levet (FRA) - Alexandre Chabot (FRA) 2003 Angela Eiter (AUT) - Alexandre Chabot (FRA) 2004 Angela Eiter (AUT) - Alexandre Chabot (FRA) 2005 Angela Eiter (AUT) - Ramòn Julien Puigblanque (ESP) 2006 Sandrine Levet (FRA) - Ramòn Julien Puigblanque (ESP)

12 It is not possible to think about Cassin company and not to think about its founder at the same time, who embodies the history of alpinism: like every champion Riccardo Cassin burnt the stops when he began to climb; every wall, every ground became too narrow or too easy. The needs he faced when he began to climb on untouched walls and undiscovered routes obliged him to look for solutions and new products according to the new appearing difficulties. He stayed in the workshop with his friends after work time to create the rock pitons that today you can find in the cliffs in the Ovest di Lavaredo or in the cracks obstructed with ice of the Nord of the Grand Jorasses. This active and real connection between ideation and construction of the instrument together with the practice of a mountaineering has been always the guarantee of the Cassin trademark. But only after war Riccardo decided to provide every alpinist with the best technical material, that had been already used and checked by the greatest alpinist of the history on the walls of the Alps. It was in 1947 that he started his activity in the shop backside in Lecco. The first rock pitons were produced in 1947, the hammers in the following year, the ice axes in 1949 while the carabineers made of iron appeared in For the production of his tools Riccardo Cassin referred to a blacksmith, Antonio Codega, who lived in Premana, Valsassina, and who had been already producing ice axes for alpinists. The name of his small factory was CAMP! In 1950 he had produced the first eiderdown duvet jackets for non-european mountaineering expeditions and two years later he started a regular production. In 1958 it was produced the first harness prototype made together with his son and even in this case two years after they started the production. In the meanwhile the company was developing and became an Snc in The alpinist always facing new and bigger difficulties in his new adventures knew perfectly the new frontiers of the equipment that he needed to have: the crampons made of titanium created in 1970 to face one of the Himalayan colossus: the Lhotse. The company was moved from Lecco, in the first part of the eighties, near by Valmadrera. The great attention to the creation of products for a progressive mountaineering is the vocation of the company that continued its activity with the presentation of an ice axe with the carbon handle in The family business leading during the following 11 years, even if based on the sacrifice spirit and passion for the mountain, was not able to survive in the severe conditions of competitions and quickly changing requirements. And in 1997, after 50 years of existence, we are to notice the new turn for this important trademark; CAMP, famous company that was Cassin constant competitor, bought the trademark Cassin. It was a real important turn, passionate and impulsive, the reanimation and renovation of the society so prestigious became one of the principal challenges for CAMP group. Codega s family, so experienced and refreshed with a new energy of its 4th generation, has an intention to give all its innovation, style and service level, that distinguish CAMP group, also to Cassin society, thanks to the Certification ISO 9001 of Quality System, obtained in October of Nowadays Cassin is always the synonym of elite alpinism, looking for new and great challenges between man and the mountain. CASSIN s.r.l. Via Piedimonte, Valmadrera (Lecco) Italy Tel. 0341/ Fax 0341/ Web Site info@cassin.it Capitale sociale int. vers. - R.E.A M LC Reg. Imprese di Lecco C.F./P.IVA n

13 LA SPORTIVA Who we are La Sportiva is a company situated in the Trentino, Northern Italy, a world leader in the production of sports shoes for the mountains. It is a world leader for climbing shoes and technical mountain boots. And it is growing fast in sectors such as trekking, approach and mountain running. Location At Ziano di Fiemme, in the Trentino in the heart of the Italian Dolomites. It is the only company outside of the traditional Montebelluna area. Company mission La Sportiva is company which has a great tradition, which works hard evolving the techniques and quality of its footwear products. The company's objective is to provide every climber with the best solution for every type of use. La Sportiva invests heavily in R&D to continually innovate the technical and performance characteristics of its products. In the long term this strategy has proven to be a winner, and has enabled us to be leaders in the sports climbing and mountaineering market for more than twenty years. History In the Twenties Narciso Delladio, a young and promising craftsman, handcrafted wooden clogs and leather boots for lumberjacks and farmers of the Fassa and Fiemme valleys. A participation certificate for the Milan trade fair dates back to 1928, and this is the date the company was founded. After the Second World War, the demand for boots increased and the name of Calzoleria Sportiva became better known. In the Fifties his son Francesco began to work for the Company. With farsightedness they began to build a new workshop in Tesero. Francesco Delladio introduced the new brand name "La Sportiva" and a complete winter and summer collection. In the early Seventies the fundamental choice: La Sportiva decided to diversify production, targeting other growing sectors connected with mountains and the mountaineering world. At the beginning of the Eighties, the definitive turning point. The third Delladio generation, the sons of Francesco, Lorenzo and Marco, started to work in the organization. Free climbing opened new horizons, allowing La Sportiva to achieve great success. An extraordinary climbing shoe was designed, the Mariacher, the genesis of a long series of vanguard products, destined to write the story of this by now consolidated sport. The Company conquered new markets and expanded abroad. La Sportiva climbing shoes were used by the world s best specialists and appreciated by an always-larger number of consumers. In 1996 the Company moved to a new and modern facility of 7000 mq, in Ziano di Fiemme, in the heart of the Dolomites. The following years are recent history, in which La Sportiva has made a name for itself as brand leader in climbing and mountaineering, with products that are the reference point of the world market. La Sportiva will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2008, while it's turnover continues to grow and exports count for 80% of production. It is a Company with a human dimension, certified, which partners technology, passion and respect for the environment. A reality that works at the highest quality standard to win new challenges and represents worthily the Italian tradition of footwear manufacturing technique. Athletes The best climbers in the world have reached the highest levels in their sport using La Sportiva products. Houshold names such as Manolo, Stefan Glowacz, François Legrand, Luisa Iovane, Lynn Hill and Robin Erbesfield have made it into the history books of sports climbing. Liv Sansoz, Muriel Sarkany, François Lombard, Christian Brenna... and many others contuinue to do so. The evolution obvioulsy continues, up to the champions of the newst generation, such as Patxi Usobiaga, Angela Eiter, Adam Ondra, Mauro Calibani and Jérôme Meyer. This same principal applies to the mountain and nowadays thes best mountaineers in the world use La Sportiva products: Simone Moro, Alex and Thomas Huber, Stevie Haston, Mauro Bubu Bole, Denis Urubko, Edurne Pasaban and Christophe Moulin. LA SPORTIVA SPA Luca Mich Marketing Office

14 PRESS RELEASE SALEWA en route to success INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE SALEWA, the leading European mountaineering multi-sports specialist continues its successful expansion, introducing new strategies for the future. New markets are being targeted and in 2010 the company will move into its new head office in Bolzano. The contract for the futuristic construction project was awarded following an international architectural competition. The SALEWA group recorded a strong surge in sales to 132 million last year resulting from product innovation, a network of subsidiaries and many successful sales strategies and is continuing its successful expansion strategy. The new head office is a further milestone in the history of the company, after the successful launch of the footwear collection. The introduction of the new collection with the unique 100% blisterfree guarantee was highly successful: The result was 20% over and above the budgeted figures for the first pre-order season. «We are not surprised, but we are very satisfied with the successful start to our footwear collection» says Antonio Dus, General Manager of the SALEWA Footwear Division. «This is the proof that our concept is successful and that the market will accept newcomers, once the product is interesting and innovative. This applies, even where the market is saturated and the standard of products is high». About 300 dealers will have sold 50,000 pairs of shoes by the end of the season. The footwear collection has been particularly successful in Germany, Italy, France and the export markets. «This is the most attractive first collection we have ever seen» was the typical reaction from the trade. SALEWA is also expanding successfully into new markets. The SALEWA group set up a subsidiary in the USA in January of last year to serve the North American market with the leader brands Dynafit, silvretta and SALEWA even better than before. Europe s leading mountaineering specialist has thus concluded an important step in its growth strategy. The new subsidiary is located in Boulder, Colerado, bang in the centre of the Alpine community. As the Director, Chris Sword will be responsible for the important North American market.important developments are also taking place in other important export markets. In Korea, Asia s most important outdoor market, 44 SALEWA stores have been opened in cooperation with a local partner. According to Group Export Manager Andreas Rauter, 16 more stores will follow between now and From the mainland SALEWA is getting ready for the Taiwanese market. In December 2006 the first SALEWA store opened and more stores are soon to follow. «The Tailwanese market is very strong when it comes to trekking and travel. But we can still benefit from our reputation as a mountaineering multi-sports specialist» says Rauter. «As a brand from the Alps, SALEWA is authentic and credible».on the European front the brand is also growing well. As well as the Alpine countries where SALEWA has enjoyed an excellent reputation for over 70 years, SALEWA is focusing on countries where alpinism has a strong tradition. In the Czech Republic the brand is well established. This year a subsidiary will be set up in Poland to serve this traditional Alpine market in the best way possible. SALEWA shops will be opened in conjunction with local partners. In Russia s enormous market the brand is distributed widely among specialist dealers as far as Siberia. Even President Vladimir Putin dresses from top to toe in SALEWA. «We now have an excellent name in Russia» says Export Manager Andreas Rauter. «We aim to secure this position and to achieve long term growth in our strategic areas».

15 2 SALEWA milestones: Establishment of SALEWA Footwear Division with R&D department in the Italian «world shoe metropolis» of Metebelluna First SALEWA shop opens in Taiwan, in Korea there are now 44 SALEWA shops Annual turnover 2006 reaches 132 million for the SALEWA Group Opening of North America subsidiary in the mountaineering hotspot of Boulder, Colerado. Division Head is Chris Sword Launch of first SALEWA Footwear collection SALEWA is the first and only manufacturer worldwide to offer stitch free technologies in all product categories Planned date for establishment of SALEWA subsidiary in traditional Alpine market of Poland Launch of first sleeping bags for unlimited movement and a deep sleep thanks to new «flexzone» Planned date for move into new company head office in Bolzano. For more information, samples and photos contact: Jürg Buschor Fon Mobil juerg.buschor@salewa.ch

16 Comunicato Stampa SALEWA ROCK AWARD 2007 Selezionati i cinque atleti che concorreranno all assegnazione del premio SALEWA Rock Award nell ambito della seconda edizione dell ARCO ROCK LEGENDS Per l oscar dell arrampicata sono in gara due statunitensi, uno spagnolo, un ceco e un tedesco. La consegna del premio il 7 settembre alla vigilia della XXI edizione del Rock Master. Per il secondo anno consecutivo SALEWA è protagonista nella serata dell Arco Rock Legends, la cerimonia di consegna di prestigiosi riconoscimenti ai protagonisti del mondo verticale e che aprirà le danze all evento clou, il Rock Master, il più importante evento internazionale dedicato all arrampicata. Il leader in Europa in fatto i abbigliamento e attrezzatura per la montagna, affiancherà la manifestazione con la titolazione del premio SALEWA Rock Award che verrà consegnato al miglior climber scelto da una rosa di cinque candidati. Sono infatti note le cinque nomination degli atleti che nella serata del 7 settembre concorreranno all assegnazione del prestigioso premio. Si tratta degli statunitensi Dave Graham e Daniel Woods, dello spagnolo Patxi Usobiaga, del tedesco Andreas Bindhammer e del giovanissimo Adam Ondra dalla Repubblica Ceca. Di loro la giuria, composta da un pool di 15 riviste internazionali specializzate nella arrampicata, ha valutato imprese e attività in parete nel periodo da giugno 2006 a giugno Ad assegnare gli oscar dell arrampicata sportiva un gruppo di giurati tra i più esperti e rappresentativi: un collegio giudicante presieduto da Fabrizio Miori (Assessore Turismo e Sport Comune di Arco) in qualità di Presidente e dal Vice presidente di giuria, Giorgio Balducci, regista RAI. Le riviste rappresentate sono Alp magazine (ITA), Climber (KO), Desnivel (ESP), 8a.nu (INT), Gory (POL), Grimpeur (FRA), Klettern (GER), Limits (NDL), Montana (CZE), Pareti (ITA), Rivista del CAI (ITA), Rock & Ice (USA), Summit (GBR), UP (ITA). Chi succederà alla spagnola Josune Bereziartu, vincitrice del primo SALEWA ROCK AWARD, lo sapremo venerdì 7 Settembre, quando nella Sala del Casino di Arco (Garda Trentino), la giornalista, conduttrice televisiva e radiofonica Kay Rush a fianco di Angelo Seneci, organizzatore dell evento, comunicheranno il vincitore con il fatidico the winner is. SALEWA: SULLE ALI DEL SUCCESSO SALEWA è il marchio leader in Europa per l attrezzatura e l abbigliamento da montagna: un vero «multispecialista» nell outdoor. Oltre settant anni di tradizione ed esperienza sono fonte continua d ispirazione e rappresentano la base per raggiungere obiettivi sempre più ambiziosi.

17 Una filosofia aziendale Se a fine aprile foste passati per via Negrelli a Bolzano, avreste trovato sul cancello di OberAlp, un cartello con scritto: Chiuso per 25 anni!. Un cartello appeso non un solo giorno, bensì sette! Ma come, l azienda leader in Europa nell abbigliamento e attrezzatura da montagna, ha chiuso i battenti? No, non si tratta di uno scherzo, ma di una scelta che il management dell azienda ha assunto per festeggiare il traguardo del giubileo. Venticinque anni fa, infatti, Heiner Oberrauch si lanciava nell avventura di una iniziativa imprenditoriale a cui diede parte del suo nome (Ober) e lo completò con la sua passione, le Alpi. OberAlp appunto. Oggi quell idea che vide la luce con un solo dipendente (un magazziniere part-time, mezza giornata di lavoro per sbrigare le prime spedizioni) ha assunto ben altre dimensioni che si riassumono in un unico numero: 700 persone sparse in dieci Paesi. E allora vale la pena di festeggiare alla grande e in modo coerente con la mission aziendale: si chiude per una settimana e i 70 dipendenti del quartier generale di Bolzano se ne vanno tutti quanti a fare trekking in Marocco. E così è stato. Ma chi conosce OberAlp non resterà stupito di questa iniziativa, perché il gruppo titolare dei prestigiosi marchi Salewa, Dynafit e Silvretta ha un modello di business un po fuori dal comune, frutto di una filosofia aziendale che ha unito con lungimiranza due culture (quella latina e mediterranea con il senso razionale dell organizzazione germanica) in una terra di mezzo, l Alto Adige. In azienda non si percepiscono gerarchie: tutti si danno del tu (anche con Heiner!), c è una gran quantità di giovani (l età media è 27 anni) tutti con energia ed entusiasmo da vendere, perché come dice il fondatore il positivo attira il positivo, a dispetto di qualsiasi legge fisica sull attrazione tra poli opposti. Un gruppo di persone che lavorano in un clima sereno di collaborazione e di passioni comuni, come l amore per la montagna e per lo sport. L azienda bolzanina, punto di riferimento nel mondo dell outdoor, con la produzione e la distribuzione di attrezzatura e abbigliamento dedicati agli sport alpini festeggia oggi 25 anni di pieno successo, all insegna di un modello imprenditoriale raro e quanto mai riuscito. Dare valore alla persona, alla sua creatività e alle sue esigenze, offrire spazio e opportunità di crescita e di soddisfazione professionale e personale, distribuire responsabilità nel rispetto della propensione individuale, ripensare il concetto di azienda e trasformarla in laboratorio dove ciascuno si sente parte di un gruppo. La storia Sono questi i presupposti del successo di OberAlp che, dopo aver ottenuto la licenza di sviluppare la linea di abbigliamento Salewa (nel 1983) e averne poi acquisito il marchio (nel 1990), si è distinta nel settore per investimenti e risultati. Risultati che vengono da lontano, se si pensa che Salewa è stata fondata nel 1935, a Monaco di Baviera, e che ha mosso i primi passi durante la seconda guerra mondiale, producendo zaini e bastoncini da sci in nocciolo. Da allora, una serie di prodotti studiati appositamente per gli appassionati di montagna che proiettano il marchio con l aquila, è il caso di dirlo, davvero in vetta al mondo delle attrezzature e dell abbigliamento tecnico. A fianco di Salewa altre due acquisizioni nel campo dello sci alpinismo Silvretta, l emblema della tradizione, e Dynafit, leader assoluto nel mondo della neve fresca. I dati di oggi Negli ultimi anni il gruppo SALEWA ha registrato una forte crescita chiudendo il 2006 con 132 milioni di Euro di fatturato, che corrisponde ad un incremento del 9% rispetto all anno precedente. Uno sviluppo ottenuto grazie ad una giusta miscela tra innovazioni di prodotto, network di nuove sedi internazionali e strategie vincenti nelle vendite. OberAlp è oggi una realtà produttiva, ma non solo, si pone nel mercato con competenza e innovazione, con filiali nei principali mercati europei quali Germania, Austria, Svizzera, Italia, Francia e Spagna e una neonata sede nordamericana in Colorado. A questi si aggiungono numerosi punti vendita in tutto il mondo (solo in Corea sono 40) e le unità produttive in Romania. Senza dimenticare il primo amore in casa OberAlp, ovvero l importazione e la distribuzione di molti dei più famosi marchi internazionali di prodotti, attrezzature e abbigliamento per sport tradizionali come sci alpino, sci di fondo, snowboard, freestyle, running. Loeffler, Icepeak, Barts, TimeZone, Armada, Gaastra sono solo alcuni dei brand che la divisione Marketing & Distribution commercializza in Italia offrendo una gamma di servizi unici. Infatti OberAlp segue e promuove con analisi di mercato, consumer marketing e trade marketing il meglio della produzione mondiale per l attività all aperto.